Is it a rar wheel bearing

[S70JPS]

There is a rattle at the back of my wife's A3. I have several options the parcel shelf which I have no ruled out, the gas struts as I can rattle the hatchback when open, or a rear wheel bearing. When I grab one rear wheel and wobble it I can hear the noise. There is no drone when driving. before I lay out £80 on a new hub can anyone tell me if this is typical of a failed wheel bearing? Normally I associate this fault with a constant droning noise.

[imagineifyeswill]

A wheel bearing failing normally gives a droning noise rather than a rattle. You say when you wobble one rear wheel you hear the noise, the fact that you can wobble the wheel suggest that there is some fault there, as there shouldnt be any play in that type of bearing or any of the suspension components.

[finlo]

Drop links.

[S70JPS]

Think that the drop links are the more likely candidate I'll look at the weekend. The wheel does not move per say but the noise happens when I try to wobble it.

[X8Matt]

Try wobbling the wheel with the handbrake applied. If it still has play, it won't be the wheel bearing, as applying the handbrake locks the wheel to the hub carrier.

[Mr2Mike]

S70JPS said:

Think that the drop links are the more likely candidate I'll look at the weekend. The wheel does not move per say but the noise happens when I try to wobble it.

Then it's almost certainly a fault in the suspension, either a knackered bush/balljoint or a bolt come loose.